Developer and Planning Commission spar over annexation, utilities on Ores Farm PUD

Schererville Town — Developers presented a phased master plan for the Ores Farm residential planned unit development at a July 21 study session of the Schererville Planning Commission, but the meeting ended with disagreement over whether the project’s 2018 annexation and PUD approvals remain vested and how the commission should proceed.

Tom Hardy, a representative of developer St. Burke, said the proposal covers the southeast quadrant of Schererville — roughly between 90th Street and 101st Street — and is divided into northern, central and southern phases. He told commissioners the team has produced master drainage, sanitary sewer and potable water engineering and intends to submit final drawings for the northern phase in late September or early October.

The developer’s presentation described lot widths of 70, 80 and 90 feet and said the plan adheres to the annexation ordinance’s limit that no more than 30 percent of lots be 70 feet wide; Hardy said the current layout results in 70 lots that meet that limit. The plan also calls for a spine road through the development that would connect down to 101st Street; the developer said that road would be built in phases rather than all up…